Lifelong Detroiter and longtime UAW leader Jimmy Settles has been named group executive in charge of neighborhoods within Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's administration, on the heels of retiring from a union career that spanned more than 50 years.

Settles, 68, will replace outgoing group executive Charlie Beckham, who is set to retire Sept. 1 after serving six mayors within the past four decades.

"It's a great feeling," Settles told the Free Press. "I still had the fire in my belly and it was a moment of, do you sit on the sidelines and do nothing, or do you get into the movement? I wanted to be part of the movement after the mayor came to me and asked. It means everything to me."

Noting a significant amount of community investment over time, including helping build new ballparks across the city, mentoring youth and feeding homeless people, Settles said he's no stranger to working within Detroit neighborhoods.

"I have personally seen the resurgence of the city," Settles said. "I am honored to serve and represent the city."

Duggan said when Beckham initially informed him of his plans to retire, he decided to seek out someone who had deep roots and an understanding of the city.

"I thought there's one person in this town who for 50 years has made sure everyone in his union was taken care of," Duggan said. "By the time his career was done, he was representing 100,000 Ford workers and he made sure every one of those 100,000 union members was treated fairly. He loves the city of Detroit."

As group executive, Settles will oversee the city's Department of Neighborhoods, which was created in 2014. Each of the city's seven council districts has a district manager and deputy district manager who act as direct contacts and liaisons for residents to city departments to address blight and other issues.

Settles has a lengthy career as a union activist, beginning in 1968 when he joined UAW Local 600 as an employee at Ford Motor Co.’s Dearborn Iron Foundry and Michigan Casting Center, according to his biography.

He quickly rose through the ranks and was elected to various positions within the union, including vice president of the UAW on June 14, 2006, at the union’s Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas. He was re-elected in 2010 at the union’s convention in Detroit.

Before that, Settles served on the UAW International Executive Board and as director of UAW Region 1A.

As vice president, Settles helped lead negotiations with the State of Michigan, American Axle, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Boeing and Ford.

Settles is also a well-known name in the local community.

A longtime political activist and Democratic precinct delegate, Settles has worked on several campaigns and founded Detroit Circles in 2012, a grassroots campaign that drummed up support for President Barack Obama, according to Settles' biography.

He's also a longtime member of the NAACP and has held various board positions during his career.

Katrease Stafford is the Detroit government watchdog reporter for the Free Press, covering city issues and the community. Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.